Inmate Tricks Pen Pal Into Helping In Forgery

August 14, 1985|The Morning Call

A Bethlehem woman who had a federal prisoner as a pen pal became an unsuspecting accomplice in a federal crime, according to Bethlehem police.

The woman, whose name was not released by police, saw an advertisement in a Christian magazine and began corresponding with the prisoner in an unnamed, out-of-state prison, according to Joseph Keglovits, crime prevention officer.

The pair exchanged letters frequently, and the prisoner told the woman about his frustrated career as a prison artist. He said he sometimes sold his art and asked her to keep the money for him until he could launch his appeal.

The woman, described as being "in her 50s," opened an account in a Bethlehem savings and loan and deposited 30 postal money orders totaling $15,000 over several months. Eventually, the prisoner asked her to withdraw the money and send it back to him, and she complied, according to Keglovits.

Trouble was, every money order was forged. The orders were drawn at $5 and altered to $500. The forgeries were not discovered immediately because it took some time for them to be traced through the postal money order system.

Keglovits said the woman, who is "very upset," probably will not be charged with a crime. The unidentified savings and loan, however, probably will be unable to recover its $15,000, he said. Authorities have not been able to determine what happened to the money.

Keglovits related the incident as a warning to people who may be corresponding with prisoners. He said this method of forgery, using innocent people, is common throughout the United States.